"People who are working hard, paying their taxes, are of good moral character ... regardless of their immigration status, they, too, should be able to share in the American dream," U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) told reporters at a December 11 service at New Zion Baptist Church in Chicago, where Blagojevich announced the program.

"Buying a home is a key first step for many working families to start realizing the American Dream," Blagojevich said in a statement. "But when you are paid in cash, or you can't open a checking account or establish a credit history, applying for a mortgage loan is a lot more difficult. That's why we created the Opportunity I-Loan program to help Latino families, African-American families, Asian-American families, and so many other families qualify for a loan and buy a home."

...One of those [Republican candidates for governor], state Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), said he intends to introduce a bill to prohibit state-backed loans to anybody but legal Illinois residents. He said people he has met on the campaign trail are outraged over the idea of the state backing loans for illegal aliens.

"The general public is furious, to say the least," Brady said. "I'm a state senator, and I heard about this Saturday and he announced it on Sunday." The program went into effect the next day...

..."Our governor is sending a message: Break our laws and we'll reward you with a new home," [candidate Jim Oberweis] said. "It's absolutely insane. We are going to reward people who are here illegally with more attractive interest rates than we give to our veterans, people who have risked their lives for our country...

...Gerardo Cardenas, a spokesman for Blagojevich, said the governor decided not to go to lawmakers with the program partly because of problems in neighboring Wisconsin, which launched a similar program about a year ago.

"In Wisconsin they went through the legislators to do this, and it has been back and forth with the governor and legislators," Cardenas said. A bill that would end Wisconsin's program is under consideration...